Is This the End of the Line for Joe Paterno?

If a measure of a man’s success is defined by how well he performs on the job, then Joe Paterno’s 409 wins as head football coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions supports that definition. But, if success is defined as “doing the right thing” even when faced with the possibility of losing one’s job, then Paterno has failed.

Paterno Legacy

Paterno’s position as head coach is coming to an end, but it may not be age or his death that brings his illustrious career to a close. A scandal involving one of his former assistant coaches has him embroiled in controversy, one that is distracting from the team’s preparation for a noon showdown this Saturday against Nebraska in State College, Pennsylvania. The #12 Lions are atop of their division in the Big Ten Conference with a two game lead over Wisconsin and Ohio State. They’re also the last undefeated team in the conference with their collective eyes on a major bowl game possible this January.

The allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky are severe: nine male witnesses have come forth claiming that they were molested by Sandusky, information that Paterno first learned about as far back as 2002. Instead of going to the police with what he knew, Paterno apparently told a supervisor and left it at that.

Hot Seat

Paterno and athletic director Tim Curley are now on the hot seat for not pressing for an investigation. That hot seat is shared by three other people too including Penn State’s president, Graham Spanier, advisor Gary Schultz and one-time grad assistant Mike McQueary who apparently was an eyewitness to one of the assaults. That investigation should have come from the police who were never notified.

The Attorney General for the state of Pennsylvania, Linda Kelly, noted that Paterno fulfilled his legal obligation by turning the matter over to a supervisor. Although Paterno may be resolved legally, he may not be morally. And this is from a community of alumni and fans who are disgusted and disappointed that Paterno did not follow up.

Ignored Transgressions

Paterno, long considered the embodiment of all things right with college stports, suddenly looks like he is part of the problem – covering up or ignoring transgressions for the sake of protecting Penn State football, his personal legacy or both. That makes for a sad commentary with a storyline that won’t have a happy ending.

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